Inter-state heart transplant saves 16-year-old patient's life

Despite this being the 13th heart transplant conducted in Mumbai, doctors say awareness about organ donations is the need of the hour.

A 16-year-old boy suffering from a severe heart condition got a new lease on life after the family of a 22-year-old accident victim agreed to donate his heart, making this the 13^thheart transplant conducted in Mumbai. The donor s family also consented to donate the 22-year-old s corneas, liver, and kidneys after being counselled by social workers.

The heart transplant was conducted in Fortis Hospital on April 12 after the recipient, who hails from Latur received the heart all the way from Surat. The patient was suffering from dilated cardiomyopathy and his family was desperately waiting for a donor since the last one month after being added to the hospitals waitlist. Dr. Anvay Mulay,Head of Cardiac Transplant Team, Fortis Hospital, Mulund, retrieved the heart from the donor atMahavir Hospital, Surat and transported it to the private hospital within 1 hour and 19 minutes after covering a distance of 269 km.

However, despite the heart transplant being conducted successfully, doctors say that there still isn t adequate awareness about organ donations in Mumbai due to which many patients battling against heart conditions end up losing their lives due to the long waiting lists. Dr S Narayani, Zonal Director, Fortis Hospital, Mulund says,After witnessing an upsurge in cardiactransplants in the previous months, there was a lull in organ donation. I strongly feel that the momentum has to pick up for us to be able to help more such patients with end-stage cardiac failure. However, unfortunately, another young patient breathed his last in the previous week, as he waited for a donor's heart for over 21 days.

Further adding to this point, Dr Vijay Agarwal, Head of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery, Fortis Hospital, Mulund, says, 'The lull in organ donation, in the previous weeks, has impacted the wait-listed patients. We hope that the success of this surgery brings back the much-needed thrust in Organ Donations across the country. Such positive stories give courage to waitlisted patients and their families.' Talking about the recipient who now recuperates at the hospital, he said, The patient has been moved to the ICU. Next, 24-48 hours will be critical for him. Read: Mumbai doctors perform 7th heart transplant after heart was flown in from Surat.

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